Tuesday, May 5, 2009

(It takes something like swine flu to get my brain to exercise a bit.)

Anyway, it makes me realize how much our world's advancing technology and increasing media outlets can be both a blessing and a curse.

I personally am so O.V.E.R. this whole swine flu thing. It's not that I want to minimize the actual existing danger of it, but the system surrounding the deliverance of "swine flu" information does have its flaws.

The fact remains, yes- this particular H1N1 strain of flu has and can continue to result in fatalities, however, it is estimated that this past year 38,000 people died from general influenza.

We have become a world where increasing availability of airplanes and other means of travel have allowed more people to get from point A to point B with enormous ease. This of course allows for any particular disease (such as malaria and other more fatal diseases) to have a more wide spread affect.

We also have come a long way from messenger on horse riding through the cobblestone streets yelling,"Death is upon us.... Death is upon us... Evil is spreading across our great nation. We are being eternally damned by the hand of The Lord..."

But, are we so quick to get the word out, that we are losing perspective on the difference between "better safe than sorry" and "scare tactic".

Yes - it is very important to remind people of all the precautionary measures they should take.

Reasonable precautions include:

1. Washing your hands throughout the day, especially if they might come in contact with any orifices of ANY sort on your person or on some other person.

2. Do cough and sneeze into a tissue or your arm, and then immediately dispose of the tissue (or the arm).

3. Then scroll back to number 1.

4. If you are a coughing, dripping, sneezing mess - please do not go out into society exposing all those who are actually following rules 1 -3.

5. If you absolutely must, must, must go out amongst the healthy people, please do wear a mask. However, please keep in mind, that most probably that funky looking thing you are wearing over your mouth and nose, will not actually prevent your infectious droplets and fluids from spreading to unsuspecting healthy people. Therefore, please scroll back to number 4.

Unreasonable precautions include:

Anything that comes out of the mouth of a Vice President who lacks a filter between his brain and said, mouth that might inject panic amongst the people and the desire to stop functioning as a fluid society.

This past week an airplane from Europe diverted to a city other than its final destination to , for all intents and purposes, kick a passenger off the plane because she had "flu symptoms".

I give them credit for actually waiting to come across the Atlantic, and make a safe landing before they kicked her off.

Have you ever been on an overseas flight?

Just being on an airplane that long is enough to make anyone sick.

I have visions of all the old "zombie" movies... The first sign of "zombieism" and you are screwed.

"Look - that guy is eating a burger..."

"Yeah - soon he will be feasting on human flesh with the same egregiousness..."

"He must have the zombie virus!!!"

"Shoot him... Shoot him..."

Ten people raise a myriad of shot guns and hand guns and this one guy has a Molotov cocktail and the burger loving "zombie" is no more.

How easy would it be for someone to call out a possible flu victim (or not) in the same way?

"Hey, did you just sniffle?"

"No"

"Yeah, yeah, I am pretty sure I heard a sniffle."

"No, I swear. I was breathing loudly."

"No man, that was definitely a sniffle."

"Hey everyone, a Swiney, a Swiney. Get him!!!"

Shots ring out, there is a blow torch... and Swiney is no more.

Remember, 38,000 people died last year from influenza. How many have died from the H1N1 flu, which seems to now be tapering off in Mexico?

Just separate the reasonable information from the scare tactics and use your responsible sensibilities and also, maybe pray a little.

Don't let the swines win!

5
have shown Orah a little love:

Anonymous
said...

This one is leaving me speechless............ohh no wait, I have something.....your'e nutz!!!!You do raise a good point though.There seems to always have to be something to panic over. If we all just go about our lives and deal with things calmly and rationally, ie , the damn flu, well, then life would just be soooooo boring! - Miss. S. P.S. -was not able to see the pic!

About Me

I am a wife to my Hun and a mother to four. If I ask for one hour, I really want more. Whether in the bath with some bubbles, or on the couch with a beer, for a whole 60 minutes, please don't get near.

Followers

Mamma's Happy Hour:

I gave you life, give me just one hour.

Grab A Button

Snag a Button

Disclaimer:

Blogging is like going to the gym -
We try to look our best at all times and then we go to the gym. We are sweaty. Our hair is unruly. We wear pants with holes in odd places and a t-shirt with a picture of our favorite 80's rock band on it. We let it all hang out. We expose ourselves in a way we would never do out of the gym world. But after our workout, we feel good, healthy, relieved, lighter and it is all worth the effort. Those of you who know me, both in the gym and out of the gym, no need to expect me to be the same person in both places. Oh, and in the gym, I do appreciate comments on my work out results from time to time (you know what I mean).